When we think about climate change, temperature rise is often the first image that comes to mind. While temperature is indeed a central indicator, climate change is far more complex. Climate change means long-term changes in weather patterns, usually over 30 years or more1. This includes changes in temperature, rainfall, humidity, and seasons. What makes the current change alarming is not just the scale, but the speed and the cause. This is not a natural cycle; it is largely human-induced.
Temperature as the Central Trigger
Among all climate variables, temperature plays a pivotal role. Temperature changes affect rainfall, humidity, sea levels, ecosystem balance, and severe weather events. 2Scientists often mark 1850 as a milestone year because it coincides with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Since then, global average temperature has risen by approximately 1.1°C3. Scientific literature confirms that in the thousands of years before industrialization, there were no such rapid or significant temperature changes. This sudden rise is both fast and unnatural.
The Earth receives energy from the sun, of which more than 70% is reflected back into space4. The rest is absorbed by land, oceans, forests and water systems. As heat goes back into the atmosphere, some gases called greenhouse gases hold onto some of this energy, which keeps the planet warm. However, when the concentration of these gases increases excessively, more heat is trapped, leading to global warming.
Industrialization, Fossil Fuels and Carbon Overload
Industrial development depends on energy – primarily fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gas and other hydrocarbons. These fuels can hold a lot of heat when burned. They let out carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air. The more fossil fuels we burn, the more greenhouse gases accumulate.
At the same time, cutting down trees, changing how land is used, and harming ecosystems like wetlands, forests, and oceans lower the earth’s natural ability to take in carbon. Unsustainable production and consumption patterns—driven largely by greed rather than need—further accelerate emissions.
In 1850, the global average temperature was around 13.9°C5 and atmospheric CO₂ concentration was approximately 280 parts per million (ppm)6. Today, the average temperature is close to 15°C7, while CO₂ concentration has surged to around 450 ppm8. These figures clearly demonstrate the scale of human interference.
Climate Change and the Legacy of Colonialism
Climate change cannot be separated from history, politics and economics. The rich countries today—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States (the G7)—once had colonies. They industrialized early by exploiting the natural and human resources of colonized regions across Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The British Empire extracted enormous wealth from the Indian subcontinent, including treasures such as the Kohinoor diamond. France colonized large parts of Africa, leaving linguistic, economic and political footprints that remain today. The United States influenced Latin America, while European powers shaped global trade systems to their advantage. These countries built their economies through resource extraction, labor exploitation and environmental degradation far beyond their own borders.
Even today, many former colonies, including Bangladesh, continue to follow colonial-era administrative and economic policies. Global financial institutions like the World Bank, IMF, and WTO were set up to help trade and development, but in reality, they often make inequality worse. Loans are given to help reduce poverty, but countries are pushed to cut support for farms, fuel, and electricity. As a result, many developing countries remain service-oriented economies, dependent on imports, debt and external markets.
Politics and economics are closely related. Debt, trade rules, and development choices contribute to an unfair carbon footprint. Profits go to a few, but climate effects affect everyone.
Unequal Emissions, Unequal Impacts
Earth is a shared platform of finite natural resources, yet their use is deeply unequal. In rich countries, each person can produce up to 35 tons of emissions each year9. In contrast, countries like Bangladesh produce less than one ton per person. Despite contributing least to the problem, developing and least developed countries suffer the most severe impacts.
Rising temperatures cause ice melt and sea-level rise, threatening countries such as Bangladesh, the Maldives, Tuvalu and Trinidad and Tobago. In 1990, Tuvalu first brought up this serious problem at the United Nations. This led to the creation of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). These countries asked for money to cover losses from climate change. They suggested two ways to do this: a fund to provide compensation and an insurance pool. Both would be based on past actions and pollution levels.
Global Climate Governance: Promises and Politics
The United Nations created two important groups: the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to provide scientific information and the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to write policy responses. In 1992, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted at the Earth Summit. It defined climate change as a problem from greenhouse gas emissions. It set the idea of “common but different responsibilities and abilities,” based on past actions.
Countries were divided into Annex I (developed countries) and non-Annex I (developing countries). The idea was easy: if emissions went down, temperatures would stay steady, ice wouldn’t melt, and at-risk countries wouldn’t need help.
Annual climate negotiations, known as the Conference of the Parties (COP), were introduced to advance this agenda. Mitigation refers to reducing emissions, while adaptation addresses the impacts already occurring. Adaptation requires finance and technology, which developed countries are committed to provide.
From Kyoto to Paris: Gaps and Contradictions
The 1997 Kyoto Protocol was the first legal agreement. It required developed countries to cut emissions by 5.2% below 1990 levels from 2008 to 201210. However, the United States refused to ratify it, citing economic competitiveness. Market-based mechanisms emerged, allowing countries to “buy” emission reductions elsewhere—a system often described as trading pollution rights.
Over time, adaptation funding became increasingly loan-based and mitigation-focused. Funds like the Adaptation Fund, Least Developed Countries Fund, and Special Climate Change Fund were set up. They are mostly managed by groups like the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Despite these efforts, adaptation and finance gaps continued to widen.
The concept of “Loss and Damage” gained momentum after Bangladesh demanded compensation for Cyclone SIDR in 2007. It was added to the agenda at COP19 in Warsaw and later accepted under Article 8 of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Loss and Damage: Recognition Without Responsibility
At COP27 in 2022, loss and damage finance was finally acknowledged, covering both economic and non-economic losses. However, contributions remain voluntary, with no legal obligation tied to historical responsibility. The UAE’s pledge of USD 100 million, while symbolically important, falls far short of actual needs.
Conclusion: Climate Change Is a Justice Issue
Climate change is not only an environmental crisis—it is a crisis of justice, history and accountability. Those who contributed least are paying the highest price, while those who benefited most continue to delay meaningful action. Without addressing historical responsibility, structural inequality and unfair economic systems, climate solutions will remain incomplete.
The science is clear. The effects are noticeable. What remains uncertain is whether global leadership will choose justice over convenience and solidarity over profit.
References:
- https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/earths-changing-climate/
- https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/social-and-political-impact-first-phase-industrial-revolution
- https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/climate-change
- https://wmo.int/suns-impact-earth
- https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/202413
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_in_the_atmosphere_of_Earth#:~:text=In%202024%2C%20the%20concentration%20of%20carbon%20dioxide,10%2C000%20years%20prior%20to%20the%20mid%2D18th%20century.
- https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/ipcc_far_wg_I_full_report.pdf
- https://www.co2.earth/daily-co2
- https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions
- https://www.britannica.com/event/Kyoto-Protocol
